Iran’s Narco-for-Hire

Posted on Oct 13, 2011

The Iranian government may have tried to hire a member of the Zetas drug cartel to kill an ambassador; condoms have been made to commemorate the Occupy Wall Street protests; meanwhile, Facebook is after your kids. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

Occupy Wall Street Condoms Unveiled
If you’re worried about all of those protesters engaging in unprotected sex and contracting ghastly sexually transmitted diseases, you can breath a sigh of relief. Now condoms to honor (and protect) the Occupy Wall Street movement have been rolled out, reports Gawker.

What caused the wealth gap?
If you are still scratching your head trying to figure out Occupy Wall Street’s aim, you are not alone; the three-week-old movement has remained stubbornly resistant to stating clear demands.

Can OWS be turned into a Democratic Party movement?
Even the most establishment Democrats have fundamentally changed how they talk about the protests — from condescension and hostility to respect and even support — and The New York Times makes clear one significant factor accounting for this change.

Internet Censorship Growth Hampers News
A detailed study of Internet censorship in China and Iran shows that blocking techniques are changing rapidly and are becoming significant new obstacles for news organizations, governments and businesses.